KickZone eNewsletter ~ August 27, 2021 Edition

Late summer Greetings NENSA Community ~

Fall is just around the corner, and must admit, I am not ready for summer to be over just yet - it has flown by! That said, we do have an amazing line up of races, events and programing coming up this September through November starting with a weekend of back to back rollerski races in September.

On Saturday 9/18 the Keys to the Castle will be a freestyle sprint race on the closed rollerski loop at Mount Van Hovenberg in Lake Placid NY, and on Sunday 9/19 we will have the NENSA Free Fall Rollerski Race (freestyle individual) on the closed rollerski loop at the Ethan Allan Firing Range in Jericho VT.

On October 2nd & 3rd NENSA will be hosting our annual NENSA Coaches Symposium and TD & Event Organizer Training weekend. This Symposium will include both L200 & L100 Coach Certification with NENSA & U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Technical Delegate & Event Organizers training, BKL Leader Education as well as a fun evening of great Keynote speakers (with dinner outside first). See box below for full information and to register on SkiReg.com.

That same weekend, on Sunday morning 10/3 the Climb to the Castle rollerski race will take place in Wilmington NY.

Check out the box below to see all the other rolerski races coming up through November. And then winter will be just around the corner...!

Here's what we have in store for you in this week's KickZone:

Upcoming NENSA's Rollerski Race Series & Clinics September-November
Recap of the Rollins Roll Race from Mount Kearsarge, NH
Save the Dates: 10/2-10/3 for NENSA's annual Coaches Symposium and TD & Event Organizer Training in Lake Placid NY
NENSA's 2021-22 Eastern Cup Schedule
From our Partners:
From U.S. Ski & Snowboard: The 2022 Winter Olympics are Less Than Six Months Away. Here’s What to Know.
From L.L. Bean: Summer Across Maine ~ free summer programing through 9/5!
Job listing: Ford Sayre Ski Club Seeks Nordic Assistant Coach

Thank you to all our NENSA Sponsors ~ they are such a HUGE part of our NENSA programing continued success, and we so appreciate all their support. I want to be sure we all acknowledge the businesses who support us and cross country skiing!

Best,

Amie

Amie Witten Smith

Executive Director

New England Nordic Ski Association

Amie@nensa.net

www.NENSA.net

GIVING: DONATE to NENSA today, and thank you!

MEMBERSHIP: RENEW or JOIN today, and thank you!

Please take a few minutes to do that and support the organization that supports XC skiing here in New England, and beyond! NENSA is here for you, running programing for you, our ski community ~ we need your support this year, more than ever!

Be sure to follow us on fb, Twitter and on Instagram @nensa_nordic

NENSA News from the Field

Highlights and Notes from NENSA and the Nordic World

2021 NENSA Summer into Fall

Rollerski Race Series & Clinics

In collaboration with the event hosts and our NENSA partners, we’re thrilled to be in the midst of the NENSA Rollerski Series! To build momentum across our eastern region, this series features events in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York ranging from hill climbs to cross country cross events. See all events listed below on our 2021 Event Poster. Top ranked racers will compete on NENSA’s new fleet of PINK Swenor rollerskis. Stay tuned to our NENSA Breaking News, Event Calendar, Facebook, and Instagram for registration information and event details coming next!

In addition to the race offerings, we’re also planning to host Learn-to-Rollerski clinics in conjunction with some of these events where all participants can try NENSA’s Swenor rollerski fleet. Stay tuned for clinic details and then come on out and see what all the excitement’s about! All are welcome and no experience is necessary.

Click here to view our important rollerski safety guidelines. See you out there!!

Rollins Roll Recap ~

The Mount Kearsarge Climb

A staunch crew of skiers braved the fog last Sunday morning in Warner, New Hampshire for the Rollins Roll Race, a classic hill climb up Mount Kearsarge. Congrats to everyone who competed in this test event, and a big thank you to the NH State Parks and all the awesome volunteers that came out to help today. We hope this fun event will become a yearly tradition.

Just as last month in Maine — hosting a rollerski competition in New Hampshire is part of our initiative to bring programming to all parts of the Eastern region. NENSA staff were so excited to put on a race with our awesome coaches and athletes in the Granite State. The Rollins Roll was the third race of our nine race series.

Prizes for the podium include our newly cobranded NENSA/Swenor Rollerski hats made possible with the support of Enjoy Winter. As a testament to NENSA’s stance for a #fluorofree future winners were awarded a 180g block of SWIX CH10 – an excellent wax for cleaning and storage of skis. All competitors who missed the podium were awarded with a choice of Skida headbands.

We next return to Lake Placid on September 18 for the Keys to the Castle Freestyle Sprint. The next day we travel to Jericho, Vermont for a 15km freestyle event. As the focus of our early events was on regional opportunity — as we head toward the end of rollerski and the beginning of on snow competitions — we will start to see some very high level competitions on the calendar (all levels of skiers are invited to all of our rolling events). During this double weekend we will be hosting the Sun Valley Gold Team, the Bridger Ski Foundation Elite Team and the SMS T2 team. This excitement warrants participation or spectating from our community — Jericho might just be our biggest rollerski contest of the year with a permit for up to 200 competitors. Those registrations will open on SkiReg.com this week.

...click HERE for photos and full results

THANK YOU TO OUR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS

L.L.Bean and SWIX & Salomon!

Save the Dates! October 2nd & 3rd

NENSA Coaches Symposium and TD &

Event Organizers Training

Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid, NY

NENSA is excited to bring back our annual Coaches Symposium and Technical Delegate & Event Organizers Training at the newly renovated and totally redone Mt. Van Hoevenberg, NY venue. NENSA will be having one of our Eastern Cup and U.S. Ski & Snowboard Supertour weekends there in January of 2022, so it will be great to preview the new trails, the stadium and venue!

This Symposium will include both L200 & L100 Coach Certification, Technical Delegate & Event Organizers training, BKL Leader Education as well as a fun evening of great Keynote speakers (with dinner outside first).

To register for any parts of this weekend, please go to SkiReg.com

Here is a sneak peak of the weekend agenda! (Note: subject to change and please refer to the Event Notes in SkiReg.com for any updates or changes):

NENSA and U.S. Ski & Snowboard Coaches Symposium, TD & Event Organizer Training

Hosted by Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid, NY

Saturday and Sunday, October 2nd & 3rd, 2021

**PLEASE NOTE** NENSA will be following both CDC recommendations (as well as state and local COVID guidelines). We will be REQUIRING mask wearing inside, no exceptions. This means all our Symposium participants must always wear a mask during all indoor classroom and evening presentations. Thank you in advance for your compliance. We want to keep our ski community safe, as well as be able to continue with our NENSA programing this year. Any questions or concerns can be directed to NENSA's Executive Director, Amie Smith at: Amie@nensa.net

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L200 Certification:

Coaches seeking certification should register and take L200 Coach Certification Training on-line, before coming to this weekend. Then join Bryan Fish, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Cross Country Program Director, and Justin Beckwith, NENSA’s Competitive Program Director, along with NENSA Coach facilitators, for portfolio / pertinent discussions and an in-person practicum. In-person discussion will allow a deeper dive into topics covered on the L200 level coach certification. U.S. Ski & Snowboard and NENSA Coach Membership are required for certification, although all are welcome to participate.

Schedule:

Saturday:

10:00am - 12:00pm: Classroom Meeting time

1:00 - 2:00pm: “Power and Speed Development”, Bryan Fish, USST

5:00 - 5:45pm (optional): Ramps to pressure ski and #skilikeanamerican, Justin Beckwith, NENSA

7:00 - 9:00pm: Evening Presentations

Sunday:

1:00 - 3:00pm: On-foot Practicum

L100 Certification:

Coaches seeking certification should register and take L100 Coach Certification Training on-line, before coming to this weekend. Then join NENSA staff as well as NENSA Coach Developers, for portfolio / pertinent discussions and an in-person practicum. In-person discussion will allow a deeper dive into topics covered on the L100 level coach certification. U.S. Ski & Snowboard and NENSA Coach Membership are required for certification, although all are welcome to participate.

Schedule:

Saturday:

10:00am - 12:00pm: Classroom Meeting time

1:00 - 2:00pm "Power and Speed Development”, Bryan Fish, USST

2:30 - 4:30pm: On-foot Practicum

5:00 - 5:45pm (optional): Ramps to pressure ski and #skilikeanamerican, Justin Beckwith, NENSA

7:00 - 9:00pm: Evening Presentations

For the L200 & L100 in-person practicum please bring running shoes, rollerski equipment (skate and classic), helmet, water bottle and holder. NENSA will provide our fleet of Swenor Skis and SWIX poles (please note in custom questions).

Also of Note: We are also co-hosting the 2021 Climb to the Castle with the New York Ski Education Foundation (NYSEF) on Sunday morning the 3rd, which allows for more education or participation as a competitor or spectator.

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An evening with NENSA and Keynote Speakers:

6:00pm: catered dinner on the open patio

7:00pm: Paul Wylie | Keynote speaker - Overcoming the Odds: Just making the Team to Olympic Medal

7:45pm: Megan Chacosky | Sports Dietitian USOPC - Creating good habits: Nutrition considerations for young athletes and identifying and working through Red-S

8:30pm: Steve Poulin from SWIX to discuss the new non-fluoro waxes

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Technical Delegate & Event Organizer Training:

10am-4pm Saturday & 9am-Lunch Sunday:

All current TD’s as well as those folks running events this season (such as Chief of Comp) are highly encouraged to attend for both Continuing Ed, TD and Event Organizer training, all wrapped up into one, at the same time. Any venue who is hosting a major NENSA event this coming season (or next), such as an Eastern Cup, U16’s or EHS Championships, BKL Festival, are required to attend and have at least one person from your event organizers committee.

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Schedule and Agenda for Saturday 10/2, 10am-4pm

10am Welcome and introductions: Amie Smith & Fred Bailey (10min)

1. What did we learn from COVID protocols and event hosting last season and what we will be dealing with for this coming season (it’s not over yet). Q&A and Organizer issues/thoughts? Lessons learned: never again & silver linings - (classroom) - Amie (30 minutes)

2. Equipment Control/Ski Testing (for fluoros) and discussion (classroom) - (20 minutes)

-- 15 minute break --

3. Stadium Layout (outdoors): (60 minutes)

12:15 - Lunch 1 hour break

4. State Cup races 2022 and OC Q & A (classroom): Fred

5. Course layout - able bodied (outdoors): (60 minutes)

-- 15 minute Break --

6. Para Nordic events - course layout (outdoors) TBD: (60 minutes)

7. Rollerski considerations (outdoors): (20 minutes)

Schedule and Agenda for Sunday 10/3, 9am-Lunch:

1A. Option to go to Climb to Castle (early morning)

9am classroom start:

1. FIS/National Updates (classroom): Alan (60 minutes)

2. TD reporting FIS vs. USSS vs. NENSA only - show link for watching National update (classroom): Fred (5 minutes)

3. Review of Competition Control, specifically, the use of video pitfalls and solutions (classroom): Amie (30 minutes)

-- 15 minute break --

4. Diagonal stride/classical technique zones (outdoors): (30 minutes)

5. Turning zones (outdoors): (30 minutes)

6. Closing thoughts: Fred & Amie (10 minutes)

12:15 - Lunch and depart

Questions? Contact Fred Bailey at: fred@nensa.net or Amie Smith at: amie@nensa.net

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BKL Leader Education:

Sunday: 9:00am-12:00pm

9-10am: Skier Development MythBusters presentation followed by Q and A

10am-12pm: Classic Rollerski Clinic--the primary focus of this clinic is to cover some basic classic ski technique cues and drills that are applicable to on-snow skiing in addition to providing leaders with an opportunity to try rollerskiing. Rollerskis will be provided by NENSA. Please bring your own helmet, boots, poles, gloves, and any other protective equipment you'd like to wear (i.e. elbow/knee pads).

THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS:

NENSA's Eastern Cup Schedule for 2021-22 Announced

NENSA is excited to announce the 2021-2022 Eastern Cup Schedule. Which makes today Christmas in July. Full event details will be added to the Eastern Cup pages over the coming weeks.

These four race weekends constitute NENSA’s high level race series bringing together junior, senior, and master skiers. They also serve as qualifying races for the New England Junior National Team. We would like to extend our thanks to the many venues that bid for this year’s events and we look forward to a competitive and snowy winter. We are also thrilled to announce that we will be racing in a new set of bibs supplied by and highlighting our Associate Sponsors: Swix, LL Bean, and Salomon.

...click HERE to see the full Eastern Cup schedule

THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

From our NENSA Partners:

August 16:

IN THE NEWS

The 2022 Winter Olympics are Less Than Six Months Away. Here’s What to Know.

If you didn’t get your fill of Olympic sports over the past two weeks in Tokyo, you won’t have to wait long for more: The Beijing Winter Olympics begin in less than six months. They will also arrive less than 14 years after Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Games, an event that was meant to mark China’s reentry to the world stage. ...Read Full Story at WashingtonPost.com

Ford Sayre Ski Club Seeks Nordic Assistant Coach

Ford Sayre Memorial Ski Council is a 501(c3) established in 1950 to promote the sport of skiing in the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire and is one of the few clubs in the nation that supports Nordic, Jumping and Alpine programs under one umbrella. Ford Sayre Nordic skis at Oak Hill in Hanover, NH, the ski venue of Dartmouth College, and supports nearly 300 Nordic skiers of all ages.

Responsibilities:

The Assistant Coach will work closely with the Nordic Head Coach to support the U16-U20 Junior Nordic Team (JNT) (2-4 days per week) and lead the 7/8th grade racing program (2-3 days/week). The Assistant Coach is expected to coach 4-6 training sessions per week, travel with the team to all Eastern Cup race weekends and local races, and help coordinate and facilitate a training camp over Thanksgiving break. All lodging and travel costs associated with race or training trips will be covered by the organization as will any required licenses or trainings.

Major administrative tasks include reviewing training plans and logs, regular communications with athletes, parents, coaches and other stakeholders, assisting with coordination of the Silver Fox Trot race and making regular web presence updates.

Skills & Qualifications:

● Extensive knowledge and passion for Nordic skiing and ski racing

● Basic ski waxing knowledge and proficiency

● Excellent planning, organizational, and communication skills (both written and verbal) are critical

● Valid driver’s license with a safe driving history

This is a full-time temporary position beginning no later than Nov. 1 (but encouraged to begin earlier) and ending April 1 with the potential to continue as a full-time, exempt position for the right candidate at an annualized rate of $24,000.

If interested, please send a cover letter, resume and references to Hilary McNamee (hilary@fordsayre.org)

THANK YOU TO OUR NENSA OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS:

Upcoming Events

A Look Ahead at the NENSA Calendar

Upcoming NENSA Events:

September 18: Keys to the Castle

September 19: Free Fall Rollerski Race

October 2-3: NENSA Coaches Symposium and TD & EO Training, Lake Placid NY (register on SkiReg.com)

October 3: Climb to the Castle

October 24: The Maine Event

November 6: Mt. Greylock Hill Climb

November 13: NENSA Invitational Rollerski Race

January 23, 2022: NENSA's Women's Day

March 5-6: NENSA BKL Festival

March 11-13: NENSA U16 Championships

March 18-20: NENSA Eastern High School Championships

Full NENSA.net Calendar Listing HERE

Link to our NENSA Equality & Diversity Policy HERE

Link to our NENSA BLM Resources Page HERE

If you already shop Amazon ~ please link to Amazon Smile

with NENSA as your beneficiary!

Did you know that NENSA could benefit from the Amazon purchases you are already making??! Please link your Amazon account to Amazon SMILE (with /smile) and choose NENSA as your non-profit beneficiary! All the purchases everyone is already making, all add up, and we would love to be able to benefit from that! Thank you!!